Football League Fourth Division 1980/81
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Notes |
| 1st |
Southend United |
46 | 30 | 7 | 9 | 79 | 31 | +48 | 67 | ▲Champions |
| 2nd | Lincoln City | 46 | 25 | 15 | 6 | 66 | 25 | +41 | 65 | ▲Runners Up |
| 3rd | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 59 | 49 | +10 | 56 | ▲Promoted |
| 4th |
Wimbledon |
46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 64 | 46 | +18 | 55 | ▲Promoted |
| 5th | Peterborough United | 46 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 68 | 54 | +14 | 52 | - |
| 6th | Aldershot | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 43 | 41 | +2 | 50 | - |
| 7th | Mansfield Town | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 58 | 44 | +14 | 49 | - |
| 8th | Darlington | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 65 | 59 | +6 | 49 | - |
| 9th | Hartlepool United | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 64 | 61 | +3 | 49 | - |
| 10th | Northampton Town | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 65 | 67 | -2 | 49 | - |
| 11th | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 51 | 55 | -4 | 47 | - |
| 12th | Bury | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 70 | 62 | +8 | 45 | - |
| 13th | AFC Bournemouth | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 47 | 48 | +1 | 45 |
- |
| 14th | Bradford City | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 53 | 60 | -7 | 44 |
- |
| 15th | Rochdale | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 60 | 70 | -10 | 43 |
- |
| 16th | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 11 | 20 | 15 | 60 | 69 | -9 | 42 |
- |
| 17th | Torquay United | 46 | 18 | 5 | 23 | 55 | 63 | -8 | 41 |
- |
| 18th | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 48 | 61 | -13 | 40 | - |
| 19th | Port Vale | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 57 | 70 | -13 | 39 | - |
| 20th | Stockport County | 46 | 16 | 7 | 23 | 44 | 57 | -13 | 39 | - |
| 21st | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 59 | 73 | -14 | 36 | ♦Re Elected |
| 22nd | Hereford United | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 38 | 62 | -24 | 35 | ♦Re Elected |
| 23rd | Halifax Town | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 44 | 71 | -27 | 34 | ♦Re Elected |
| 24th | York City | 46 | 12 | 9 | 25 | 47 | 66 | -19 | 33 | ♦Re Elected |
|
Election for League Membership |
||
| The bottom four league sides faced re-election and were joined in the vote by non-league Altrincham. | ||
| Votes | Club | End Result |
| 48 | Tranmere Rovers | Re Elected to the League |
| 46 | Hereford United | Re Elected to the League |
| 46 | York City | Re Elected to the League |
| 41 | Halifax Town | Re Elected to the League |
| 15 | Altrincham | Not Elected to the League |
|
End of Season Notes |
| ▼Sheffield United were Relegated from the Football League Third Division |
| ▼Colchester United were Relegated from the Football League Third Division |
| ▼Blackpool were Relegated from the Football League Third Division |
| ▼Hull City were Relegated from the Football League Third Division |
| ▲Southend United were Promoted to the Football League Third Division |
| ▲Lincoln City were Promoted to the Football League Third Division |
| ▲Doncaster Rovers were Promoted to the Football League Third Division |
| ▲Wimbledon were Promoted to the Football League Third Division |
| ♦ Tranmere Rovers were Re-Elected to the League |
| ♦ Hereford United were Re-Elected to the League |
| ♦ Halifax Town were Re-Elected to the League |
| ♦ York City were Re-Elected to the League |
| ♦ This was the last Season where 2 Points were awarded for a Win, from the 1981/82 Season 3 Points replace it |